Throw-out needle carrier

ABSTRACT

THIS DISCLOSURE RELATES TO AN IMPROVEMENT IN A BLINDSTITCH SEWING MACHINE HAVING A NEEDLE CARRIER MOUNTED ON AN OSCILLATORY SHAFT. THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISES MEANS WHEREBY THE NEEDLE CARRIER MAY BE DISENGAGED FROM THE SAFT AND ROTATED RELATIVE THERETO THEREBY PERMIT-   TING EASY ACCESS TO A NEEDLE CARRIED BY THE NEEDLE CARRIER FOR THREADING PURPOSES AND ALSO FOR NEEDLE MAINTENANCE.

Sept. 21, 1971 FORTE ETAL 3,606,849

7 THROW-OUT NEEDLE CARRIER Filed July 5, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nmuuuv 0. FORTE RnY w. FLETCHER ATTORNEY Sept. 21, 1971 FORTE ETAL 3,606,849

THROW-OUT NEEDLE CARRIER Filed July 5, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ANTHONY D. FORTE 6r ROY W FLETCHER 5308x11 *lvL- ATTORNEKS United States Patent 01 3,606,849. Patented Sept. 21, 1971 ice 3,606,849 THROW-OUT NEEDLE CARRIER Anthony D. Forte, Chicago, and Roy W. Fletcher, Riverdale, Ill., assignors to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill.

Filed July 3, 1969, Ser. No. 838,803 Int. Cl. Db 1/24 U.S. Cl. 112-176 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to an improvement in a blindstitch sewing machine having a needle carrier mounted on an oscillatory shaft. The improvement comprises means whereby the needle carrier may be disengaged from the shaft and rotated relative thereto thereby permitting easy access to a needle carried by the needle carrier for threading purposes and also for needle maintenance.

This invention relates in general to blindstitch sewing machines, and more particularly to an improvement in a blindstitch sewing machine which facilitates threading of the needle as well as maintenance and replacement thereof.

In conventional blindstitch sewing machines the eye of the needle is so close to the presser foot that it is extremely difiicult for the operator of the machine to thread the needle when it is in its operative position. Moreover, the disposition of the needle renders replacement or maintenance thereof extremely difficult as well. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a blindstitch sewing machine having novel means for facilitating threading of the needle as well as replacement and maintenance thereof.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a blindstitch sewing machine having a needle carrier mounted on a oscillatory shaft, and means whereby the needle carrier may be disengaged from the shaft and rotated or thrown-out relative thereto away from the presser foot, thereby making it extremely easy for the operator to thread or replace the needle.

Still more particularly, it is yet another object of this invention to provide in a blindstitch sewing machine in improved needle carrier comprising a hub having a bore for mounting the needle carrier on an oscillatory shaft, an arm and a head, a locking pin slidingly received in a bore in the arm and normally resiliently urged toward the hub and adapted to engage the shaft, and means for moving the locking pin away from the hub to disengage the locking pin from the shaft whereby the needle carrier may be rotated relative to the shaft for gaining access to a needle carried by the needle carrier.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the left end of a blindstitch sewing machine, and generally illustrates the novel throw-out needle carrier of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a detail front view of the needle carrier and the needle carrier shaft on which it is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the parts shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a left end view of the parts shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3, and illustrates one embodiment of the invention wherein the needle carrier arm is secured to the needle carrier shaft by a tapered locking pin which is adapted to cooperate with a complementary tapered bore in the needle carrier shaft.

FIG. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the needle carrier and needle carrier shaft of this invention, and schematically illustrates the needle carrier having been disengaged from the needle carrier shaft and rotated or thrown-out away from the presser foot to a position where it is easy to thread or replace the needle.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through the needle carrier and needle carrier shaft of another embodiment of this invention, and illustrates a cylindrical locking pin having a domed end portion and cooperating with a cylindrical bore in the needle carrier shaft.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a portion of a blindstitch sewing machine, the sewing machine being generally referred to by the numeral 10. The sewing machine 10 includes a work supporting table 11, a laterally extending arm 12 and a bracket arm 13 secured to the arm 12 and overhanging the Work supporting table 11.

An oscillatory shaft 14 is journaled in suitable bearings in the bracket arm 13. A needle carrier 15 is secured to a portion of shaft 14 extending outwardly from the bracket arm 13. Also secured to the shaft 14 and outward from the needle carrier 15, is a retaining ring 16. The retaining ring 16 rotates in an annular groove 17 on the shaft 14 and serves to prevent the needle carrier 15 from sliding off the shaft 14 when the needle carrier 15 is disengaged from the shaft 14 and rotated clockwise away from the work supporting table 11.

The needle carrier 15 includes a hub portion 18, an arm portion 19 and a head portion 20. The hub portion 18 is provided with a suitable bore 21 for mounting the needle carrier 15 on the shaft 14. A laterally extending bore 22 is provided through a portion of the arm 19. A locking pin 23 is slidingly received in the bore 22. One end of the pin 23 is provided with a tapered portion 24 which is received in a taper hole 25 in the shaft 14. Near the other end of the pin 23 is a radial hole (unnumbered) into which is secured, by a pressed fit, a cross pin 26. The cross pin 26 extends outwardly from the locking pin 23 in opposite directions and passing through slots 27, 27 on each side of the arm portion 19. A spring 28 is contained between the pin 23 and a shoulder portion 29 in the bore 22. The spring 28 resiliently urges the locking pin 23 toward the shaft 14 keeping the tapered portion 24 of the pin 23 and the tapered hole 25 in locking engagement with each other. The slots 27 allow the cross pin 26 and consequently the locking pin 23 to be moved out of engagement with the shaft 14. When the cross pin 26 reaches the end of slots 27, the locking pin 23 is free of the shaft 14 and the needle carrier 15 can be rotated in a clockwise direction. Upon rotating the needle carrier 15 back towards its normal position, the locking pin 23 will snap into the tapered hole 25 in the shaft 14 as a result of the action of the spring 28.

The needle carrier 15 is adapted to carry a needle 30. The needle 30 is secured by a thumb screw 31 in the head portion 20 of the needle carrier 15. A small plate 32 is secured by a screw 33 to the top surface of the head 20 and is provided with a thread eyelet 34. The plate 32 also serves as a stop for the needle 30 when the needle 30 is inserted into the head 20 as shown in FIG. 2.

To disengage the needle carrier 15 from the shaft 14 and rotate it in the clockwise direction away from the work supporting table 11 to the position illustrated in FIG. 7 so as to facilitate threading or replacement of the needle 30, the operator will place her thumb against the head 20 at the free end of the needle carrier 15 and engage the cross pin 26 with two fingers and pull the cross pin 26 toward her thumb thereby disengaging the locking pin 23 from the tapered hole 25 in the shaft 14. After the needle 30 has been rethreaded or replaced, the needle carrier 15 is simply rotated in the counterclockwise direction until the locking pin 23 snaps back into the tapered hole 25 under the force of the spring 28. The needle carrier 15 is then securely engaged with the shaft 14- and is free to oscillate therewith in the normal operation of the machine 10.

An alternative construction of the needle carrier of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 and is referred to generally by the numeral 40. The needle carrier 40 is adapted to be mounted on an oscillatory shaft 41 having a cylindrical hole 42 formed therethrough. The needle carrier 40 is similar to the needle carrier 15 except that it includes a locking pin 43 having a domed end portion 44 which cooperates with the cylindrical hole 42 in the shaft 41 for locking the needle carrier 40 thereon. The operation of the needle carrier 40 is identical to the operation of the needle carrier 15 as above described.

From the foregoing, it should be readily apparent that there is provided in accordance with this invention a novel needle carrier for use in a blindstitch sewing machine which permits the needle carrier to be disengaged from the oscillatory shaft on which it is mounted so as to be rotated away from the presser foot and work supporting table so as to facilitate threading of the needle and repair or replacement thereof.

Although only preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a blindstitch sewing machine, an oscillatory shaft and a needle carrier mounted thereon, said needle carrier having a bore receiving said shaft therein for pivotally mounting said carrier on said shaft, and securing means for fixedly and releasably connecting said carrier to said shaft for oscillatory movement therewith; said securing means comprising a locking pin and a locking hole for receiving said locking pin, and means facilitating slidable movement of said locking pin into and out of said locking hole for connecting said carrier to said shaft and releasing said carrier from said shaft, respectively.

2. In the machine of claim 1, said locking hole being formed in said shaft and extending transversely thereto, and said locking pin being carried by said needle carrier.

3. In the machine of claim 1, spring means resiliently biasing said locking pin in locked engagement with said locking hole, slot means formed in said carrier member, and a cross pin attached to said locking pin and disposed for slidable movement in said slot means.

4. In the machine of claim 3, a bore formed in said 4 carrier member, said spring means being carried within said bore.

5. In the machine of claim 1, said locking hole being defined by a tapered bore, and said locking pin being tapered complementary to said tapered bore.

6. A throw-out needle carrier comprising and arm having a hub at one end and a head at the other end thereof, said head including means for securing a needle thereto, a first bore formed in said hub and adapted to receive a shaft of a sewing machine for pivotally mounting said needle carrier on said shaft, a second bore formed in said arm and extending laterally of said hub, a locking pin slidably received in said second bore, spring means disposed Within said second bore for resiliently urging said locking pin into said first bore for connecting said needle carrier to said shaft, and means for facilitating withdrawal of said locking pin from said first bore against the action of said spring means.

7. The needle carrier of claim 6 wherein slot means are formed in said arm adjacent said hub, said means for facilitating withdrawal of said locking pin being comprised of a cross pin, said cross pin being carried by said locking pin and disposed Within said slot means for slidable movement therein.

8. The needle carrier of claim 6 wherein said locking pin includes a tapered surface at the end thereof which extends into said first bore.

9. In a blindstitch sewing machine, an oscillatory shaft and a needle carrier pivotally mounted on said shaft, the improvement comprising means for releasably securing said needle carrier to said oscillatory shaft; said means comprising a locking pin carried on said needle carrier, a complementary locking hole formed in said shaft, and means mounting said locking pin on said needle carrier for movement into and out of said locking hole for engaging and disengaging said needle carrier and said oscillatory shaft.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said locking pin is slidably mounted in a bore formed in said needle carrier, and spring means in said bore for normally biasing said locking pin into said locking hole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 768,327 8/1904 Hadley 112-177 1,402,390 l/1922 Yamamoto 112221X 1,899,303 2/1933 Basso 1l2221 1,905,391 4/1933 Mueller 112176 H. HAMPTON HUNTER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. ll222l; 287-14 

